559 Fights returned to the south valley for 559 Fights 23 Friday March 14th at the Holiday Inn in Visalia, Ca.
In the main event Visalia's undefeated 559 Fights flyweight champion (6-0) Manny "The Beast" Ruiz took on (4-2-1) Jorge Lima. Lima and Ruiz came out swinging in round one, with Lima landing a hard right that stunned Ruiz. Ruiz scored with some take downs, and busted up Lima in round two with a barrage of punches, that left Lima's eye nearly shut. Lima would not go quietly putting Ruiz on his knee two more times and nearly locking in a guillotine before the fight was over. Ruiz remained calm and was the fresher fighter going into the final round where he landed some hard uppercuts and looked for a guillotine himself as the final bell sounded. Judges scored the fight a unanimous decision for Manny Ruiz moving his record to 7-0-1.
In the co main event the first ever 559 Fights heavyweight champion was crowned as (6-1) Josh Powell out of Bakersfield met (4-2-1) Renardo Palmer. Fighters traded leg kicks to begin round one, Palmer then shot in and got a take down. Powell would not stay on his back long as he escaped and gained top position.
Powell rained down with some hard ground and pound forcing Palmer to tap to strikes at 1:29 in round 1. Josh Powell becomes the first ever 559 Fights heavyweight champion in his last amateur fight. Powell will now move onto the pro MMA ranks, and will making his pro debut at Tachi Palace Fights in June.
Parlier's Juan Diaz defeats Jeremy Garibay by submission. Diaz used his striking to score in round one. Diaz would take the fight to the canvas in round two moving to full mount where he landed some hard ground and pound. Garibay would get a take down in the final round, but get caught in a triangle that forced the tap at 1:11 in round 3.
Sacramento's Idris Wasi stops Robert Vildosola Jr by submission. Wasi would land some nice punches before getting taken down by Vidosola. Wasi remained calm and caught Vildosola in a triangle choke that ended the fight at 1:54 in round 1.
Anthony Torres took on Maximo Nunez. Nunez stuffed a early take down by Torres, but the current Born to Fight flyweight champion Anthony Torres. Would not be denied in his second attempt.
Slamming Nunez to the mat, where he moved to full mount and worked some ground and pound. Nunez gave up his back and Torres locked in a rear naked choke that forced the tap at 1:28 in round 1.
Delano's Ryan Robles defeats Jonathan De Leon by unanimous decision.
Fabian Luevano defeats Joshua Brandon by tko due to Doctor stoppage cause of a shoulder injury at :25 in round 2.
Khrys Daniel defeats Aaron Warnke by split decision